Ligue 1 won’t resume before June 15

Suspended earlier this month because of the coronavirus, the French top flight is set to be paused until at least mid-June.

Ligue 1 won’t resume before June 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic, based on Premiere Ligue president Bernard Caiazzo.

The season was suspended indefinitely on March 13 on account of the coronavirus outbreak.

Caiazzo, president of the union representing Ligue 1 clubs, is desperate for the effort to be finished amid major concerns over the financial effect on teams but said it was unlikely to restart for another 3 months.

“It is essential to complete the championship at any cost, even if it means finishing it in July-August and resuming in stride,” he advised France Bleu on Sunday.

“Currently, all of the clubs are dropping around $250 million per month and we can’t play until the curve is reversed. That’s to say in July-August, at best on June 15.”

Most teams had played 28 matches when the Ligue 1 season has been stopped, with PSG 12 points clear at the top.

Caiazzo said several professional clubs were facing insolvency unless they obtained support.

“I am very, very, very worried about all of the clubs. Without state aid, within six months half of the two clubs will file for bankruptcy,” he said.

“The five major European championships have already lost $4 billion, the French tournament between $500-600m.”

Last week, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas called on the LFP to finish the national season, meaning Paris Saint-Germain – 12 points clear at the peak of the table would lose out on the name.

Aulas desires European places to be given based on the current standings, although Lyon – now in seventh – would overlook.

“The most logical thing is to say we cancel everything and we begin on the situation at the beginning of the year, a white season,” Aulas said in an interview with paper Le Monde.

“In any event, you must check at what the regulations state. It’s the only possible choice in this context.”

France have been hit hard by the coronavirus, reporting over 16,000 cases and more than 650 deaths.

Euro 2020 – that was initially planned to start in June – was rescheduled for 12 months’ time.